| Big waves hit the Pipeline reefs |
| Friday, 01 March 2013 11:06 |
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The GoPro Pipe Challenge 2013 lived a spectacular day of bodyboarding with the best riders enjoying 8-12 foot barrels, at Pipeline, Hawaii.
Charlie Chapelet posted the highest single wave score (9.88) and the highest combined heat score (18.01) in Round 5. South Africa's Andre Botha seems to have found great momentum as well, posting a huge 16.75 total heat score in Round 5, driving through long, deep barrels and boosting powerful air-rolls into the flats, showing that he is still a contender to reclaim an IBA Pipe Challenge title. Antonio Cardoso also had a stellar run from the trials all the way into Round 5 where he was eventually stopped by Botha and Lucas Nogueira. Nick Ormerod almost suffered a shock elimination in his maiden heat, not catching a single wave until the dying seconds, when the talented tube rider scooped into a draining Backdoor barrel, riding it to completion and exiting perfectly. The Judges rewarded him with a 9.38 pushing Ormerod into second place and advancing into Round 6. The last heat of the day was dominated by Dave Hubbard, who put on a show stopping performance of deep barrel rides and air trickery, launching a full rotation reverse air on his last scoring ride. Placing second behind Hubbard was Japanese ripper, Yoshitada Konodo who will face off against Pierr-Louis Costes, Alex Uranga and and Jones Russell in Round 6. |
